What can be done to live more sustainably? Francesca Visintin St Philomena’s

Some of us may believe that nothing you take on to live sustainably will be effective in stopping climate change, but committing to it will reduce your carbon footprint and the amount of toxins released into the environment, helping to protect the planet for future generations. Bringing reusable bags to the store; upcycling, limiting food waste, taking public transportation, and avoiding single-use products all contribute towards this eco-friendly lifestyle. It’s that simple. Learn more about easy ways to live more sustainably in 2023.

Upcycling is the same process of reusing old materials, but it creates something more valuable or of a higher quality that gives it a second life. One of the best examples I’ve seen is taking old clothes like jeans and turning them into a cute tote bag, which not only saves the clothes but also gives them a new purpose. Creativity is endless when it comes to upcycling with its benefits to the environment being large as it reduces the need of production using new materials therefore reduces the amount of waste and pollution.

When we waste food, we waste all of the energy and water required to grow, harvest, transport, and package it. So when food rots in a landfill, it emits methane, a greenhouse gas that is even more harmful than carbon dioxide to our planet. Limiting one’s food waste can have a number of benefits, not only lowering toxic gas emissions but increasing food availability to those who are most vulnerable. Making a meal plan, constantly checking when food purchased will go out of date, storing bread in the freezer, and keeping an eye on your fridge temperature are all methods for reducing food waste.

Plastic disposables do not biodegrade. They simply degrade into micro particles that pollute our environment. Microplastics, smaller plastic particles produced by the breakdown of single-use plastic, pollute our water sources or even our food.This is why avoiding single-use products is important for protecting the environment, if more people avoid them, it can help to reduce the demand for plastic. There are an increasing number of eco-friendly alternatives to single-use products such as stainless steel straws, reusable coffee cups, microfiber cloths, beeswax wraps, and canvas bags.

As previously stated, us, as individuals, can play a role in living more sustainably; the examples I have provided may appear to be time-consuming, but they are worthwhile in the long run. So why not give it a try and see how it goes?